Kuwaiti-foreign marriages drop 21 percent in 2025; citizen marriages on the rise

Marriages between Kuwaiti men and non-Kuwaiti women declined by approximately 21 percent during the first five months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to official statistics.

Meanwhile, marriages between Kuwaiti men and Kuwaiti women increased by 3 percent, reflecting a modest but notable rise in citizen-to-citizen unions.

According to statistics, the Al-Rai daily said, from January to May 2025, the number of documented marriage contracts between Kuwaiti men and Kuwaiti women reached 2,101, up from 2,046 in the same period last year. In contrast, marriages between Kuwaiti men and foreign women dropped from 297 cases in 2024 to 236 this year.

The data revealed notable declines in marriages across several foreign nationalities — Gulf women: 75 marriages in 2025, down from 96; Women of unspecified nationality: 33 cases, down from 51; Asian women: 16 cases, down from 36; European women: 6 cases, down from 10; American women: 1 case, down from 4.

While overall foreign marriages declined, unions with women from Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon showed an upward trend — Syrian women: 25 marriages in 2025, up from 17; Iraqi women: 18 marriages, up from 16; Lebanese women: 12 marriages, up from 8.

Stable numbers from other Arab nations — Jordanian women: 12 marriages in both 2025 and 2024 and Egyptian women: 9 marriages in both periods

Summary of Key Changes (Jan–May 2025 vs 2024)

• Kuwaiti-Kuwaiti marriages: 2,101 (↑ 3%)
• Kuwaiti men–foreign women marriages: 236 (↓ 21%)
• Largest declines: Asian, Gulf, and unspecified nationalities
• Smallest numbers: American (1) and European (6) spouses
• Notable increases: Syrian (+8), Lebanese (+4), Iraqi (+2)

The shifting marriage patterns may reflect evolving social dynamics, preferences, or legal and economic factors influencing Kuwait’s demographics.